you saw him have john mccain and lindsey graham in for a private conversation this week. to me that was a very good sign. it's very important that they keep talking to each other and maybe on some issues like immigration they can make some progress. >> and, eugene, politically speaking the white house already starting to lay plans for what's going to happen in 2014. they need 17 seats to take control. that's a tall order. it would have to be clinton-like in terms of its achievement. >> it's a very tall order, particularly after redistricting has made a lot of safe districts for the republican majority. it's very difficult to draw a map and look at it and see how they pick up those 17 seats. then again, we're getting used to some pretty big swings in the house. >> no doubt. >> and not all anticipated. >> thank you. >> it happens. >> thank you. >> you gene robinson. thank you, jonathan alter. >>> up next, it's happened yet again, the right wing falls for another story without checking into whether it's true. this is "hardball," the place for politics. her recipe with sharon